Great Northern Railway Co. v. Lenton

| N.D. | Sep 21, 1915

Goss, J.

This action is to condemn two 50-foot strips 600 feet long alongside of tbe right of way of tbe plaintiff. Tbe verdict for. $410 included tbe value of tbe land taken and damages from tbe severance. Plaintiff contends tbe verdict should not exceed $207, and that tbe evidence is insufficient to justify a verdict for tbe greater amount. Appellant has briefed upon tbe basis of tbe record presenting tbe question whether damages from severance can exceed tbe value of tbe land that would have been taken bad tbe 50-foot strip sought to be condemned extended entirely across tbe half section, instead of being but a portion thereof 600 feet in length. Its reasoning is that all damages arising from tbe severance of tbe 600-foot tract bad accrued and were paid for by tbe original taking and severance; that is, by tbe settlement for tbe damages occasioned by tbe earlier taking of tbe original right of way; that, therefore, none of tbe first and tbe usual elements of damage from severance remain unpaid for. This reasoning leaves but tbe value of tbe land taken, together with such damage occasioned by its severance as peculiarly result therefrom. Plaintiff contends such damage by severance cannot amount to more than tbe actual value of tbe land that would have been taken bad tbe area sought to be condemned reached entirely across tbe land in question instead of taking but a portion thereof. Hence, plaintiff would measure its damages by tbe market value of tbe land embraced within tbe 50-foot strips extended entirely across tbe land of plaintiff, and in bis brief has offered to pay therefor, at $40 per acre, tbe stipulated value of tbe land actually taken. Anri plaintiff’s brief resolves to an argument upon tbe insufficiency of tbe evidence to sustain tbe verdict in excess of $207 but based upon tbe foregoing hypothesis.

Plaintiff’s contention might be worthy of extended consideration if it was within tbe issues presented to tbe trial court. However, tbe record may be searched in vain for any indication that this theory was in tbe mind of plaintiff’s counsel at tbe time of tbe trial. This issue was never presented below and will not be passed upon here.

Plaintiff made its case by showing the amount of land taken and its value to be $40 an acre. This by Lenton under cross-examination. In defense, proof was offered that the difference in values of the tracts remaining before and after the taking for railroad purposes was from six to eight hundred dollars. Under examination as to the basis for such claimed damage, several witnesses testified that the additional corners at the end of the strips taken and next to the original right of way rendered farming inconvenient, and caused an added element of damage from severance, beyond any occasioned by the taking of the original right of way. Appellant concedes in its brief that such an added element of damage exists by its offer to not only pay for the corners themselves, but for the value of the land within the extensions .of the strips continued entirely across the land of the defendants. At the close of the defense the plaintiff asked for a directed verdict for only the value of the l3%oo acres actually taken at $40 an acre, or $55.20, contending that “it is shown by the evidence that the damages for the severance of the right of way has been paid for once, and that damages for severance alone cannot accrue more than once.” And, “that there is no competent testimony whatever except that which is based upon, mere speculation to show the amount of alleged damages by reason of severance to the balance of the land.” The position taken on this motion is inconsistent with its position on appeal, and ignores actual and existing elements of damage arising to defendants from reasons above stated. The motion was properly denied.

In rebuttal the plaintiff offered proof that the value of the land taken, together with the damage to the portion of the tract remaining, would in the aggregate be the equivalent of a total damage of $150 per acre for the land taken. Or, in other words, disregarding the stipulated value of the land as $40 per acre for the tract actually taken, the actual damage arising from both the taking and the injury to the balance could be equitably estimated on a basis of $150 per acre for the land taken, or a total of $207- as the aggregate damage. Upon this theory at the close of the case plaintiff moved “that the court direct a verdict in favor of the defendant and against the plaintiff, assessing the damages at the sum of $207, being the value of the land at $150 an acre as shown by the testimony of the last two witnesses (plaintiff’s witnesses), there being no other competent testimony in the case as to the value of the land or damages.” • The court properly denied this motion, as the value of the land taken had been stipulated at $40 per acre, or $52.80, the value to which the owners had testified, and the proof disclosed that the severance had occasioned actual damage; and that the value of the remainder after the taking was reduced from $600 to $800. There was sufficient basis in the proof from which the jury could determine the amount of damages resulting from the severance. The theory upon which the motion was made was based upon an assumed and improper measure of damages and to have granted the motion would have been prejudicial error.

But upon this appeal, as above stated, defendant urges an entirely different contention from that specified in said motion, and one having no basis in the record. To quote from his brief, “The plaintiff specifies wherein the evidence is insufficient to support or justify the verdict as follows: That there is no competent and relevant testimony in' the record whatever, that the combined value of the land and the damage to the balance exceeds $207. That the only item of damage to the balance of the land assigned by the witnesses, or which could have been considered, was the inconvenience caused by leaving jogs in the land at the ends of the strip taken. ITence, if the jogs are eliminated, there is no damage, and the cost of removing the jogs would be the value of the two strips of land clear through at $40 per acre, which would not amount to more than half the amount of the present verdict.” There is no proof of the area of such a strip. If it be taken as respondent figures it at 7.71 acres even at $40 per acre, it would amount to much more than what plaintiff contends the verdict should be, $207. But if figured at $150 per acre, according to plaintiff’s rebuttal testimony, it would amount to double the verdict rendered. As above indicated this course of reasoning is a departure from the theory of trial, and invokes a measure for assessment of damages never presented to the trial court. In fact it is contrary to the basis for computation of $150 per acre adopted by plaintiff on trial and upon which he moved for a directed verdict. The contention “that the measure of damages is the value of the two strips all the way across this land,” to support which authority is cited, is wholly foreign to the review on this appeal. Neither of the motions for directed verdict could have been granted, and as the principal question briefed cannot be raised for the first time on appeal the only one remaining for consideration is as to whether this is a chance verdict. Under motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict or fbr new trial, a juror’s affidavit was presented. It recited that “said verdict was arrived at as follows: We took a ballot to ascertain whether or not we would give the plaintiff anything.' We next balloted on the question of amount, and we were so far apart that we then decided to ballot a third time, each juror giving the amount .he thought was right. We then took these amounts, added them together, and took the average. Then knowing what the amount was, we took a ballot on the general average to see if we all agreed to that amount, and in that manner found the amount we were willing to give.” This affidavit discloses that the amount of the verdict was knowingly determined and agreed to as the verdict, although it was based upon merely the general average of the amount each individual juror thought should be allowed. No agreement is shown to have been made in advance of the fixing of the amounts by each individual juror that the general average of such amounts should constitute the verdict. It is therefore not a quotient verdict, nor can it be held to be a verdict determined by chance under the second subdivision of § 7660, Comp. Laws 1913, 29 Cyc. 812; 29 Am. & Eng. Enc. Law, 1007, and note 3; Long v. Collins, 12 S. D. 621, 82 N.W. 95" court="S.D." date_filed="1900-03-02" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/long-v-collins-6685604?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="6685604">82 N. W. 95. Authorities cited by appellant are contrary to his contention. While such a method is not to be encouraged, yet, to permit the verdict to be overturned on this showing alone would establish a dangerous precedent and be without support in precedent. A verdict so found might be just and equitable in amount even though the result of such a compromise.

The judgment is affirmed.